An analysis of data from HMRC suggests the UK spent just under £1bn on coal imports from Russia in the last twelve months, though data on how much money goes to each company is not publicly available. The data was gathered using commodity codes for steam on the UK trade info site.

Despite mounting tension over the Ukraine crisis and increasing sanctions, coal imports from Russia have been rising, driven, in part, by demand from the UK’s big six power generators and coal plant operators.

The investigation found that the majority of Russia’s coal exports come from just three firms, SUEK, KRU and SDS Coal whose directors have close ties to the Kremlin and who have links to other Russian energy firms targeted by EU and US sanctions.

The above article included reference to Sergey Popov who was, at one time, a shareholder in SUEK. The article went on to claim that a Mr Popov was named by an expert witness at a High Court trial in London. The article should not have made a link between the two men. We have removed the reference from the story and sincerely apologise for the error.